For me, cooking and entertaining are other creative outlets I enjoy – I’m all about easy, simple (but still really tasty) food. I served up the below items at a recent (pre 4th of July) BBQ, among other staples like fruit, salad, fries, etc… but these seemed to be a real crowd pleaser. And since it’s prime time for barbeques, I thought I would share…

Cook pasta: Boil water and start to cook pasta according to package directions.Saute garlic: Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook the garlic briefly (less than 1 minute or so, careful not to burn).Cook and reduce: Add the heavy cream, lemon juice and zest, chicken broth and salt/pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower heat. Simmer sauce for about 15 minutes. It will reduce and start to thicken.Combine: Add the sauce to the cooked pasta. Add the vegetables. Add the cheese at the end.Serve: Serve with extra cheese, if you like.